Where do our surnames come from?
In his new book, published in early 2026, Jean-Claude Muller explores this question. Spanning over 1,200 pages, the book contains 175 chapters and numerous statistics from censuses between 1880 and 1980, explaining the history and development of Luxembourgish names.
Many surnames can be traced back to former occupations or given names. Names such as Petry or Huberty originally mean 'son of Peter' or 'son of Hubert'. Another source of surnames is old house names, which were traditionally used on farms and later became established as family identifiers within villages.
The study also looks at how surnames adapt across borders and into different languages. Holzmacher, for instance, becomes 'Dubois' in French.
Jean-Claude Muller’s research also aims to preserve historical house names for future generations. Further details will be presented at a conference at the Biekerecher Kulturmillen on June 11.
